Group Dental

Dental insurance is one of the most popular employee benefit programs offered by employers. It is a fairly expensive benefit plan so it is important that employers evaluate the need for such a plan. Items to consider include:

Long term costs of the plan

Should the plan be fully insured or self insured

Is the plan necessary to attract and retain employees

Are other employers in your industry offering the benefit

Rather than purchase an insured dental plan many employers determine how much they are willing to pay for a dental benefit and contribute that amount to the Health Care Account of their cafeteria plan. This approach is very effective in controlling plan costs. The table below provides a summary of typical dental plan provisions.

Typical Plan Design Provision

Group Size

5 or more employees for full coverage
Preventive only plans start with 2 or more employees

Benefits

80% to 100% Preventive Care
60% to 85% for minor restorative care
40% to 60% for major restorative care
50% for orthodontia is usually optional by plan

Benefits Amounts

Annual benefit maximum per employee ranges from $500 to $2000 with $1000 being the most common amount.
An annual deductible or $25 or $50 usually applies to the restorative areas.